Trout Town Country Cafe

Fishing for Comfort at theTrout Town Country CaféBy Al ParkerIts mid-morning, mid-week in mid-November and the Trout Town CountryCafé is jammed with a combination of lingering regulars and hungrydeer hunters swapping tales, telling jokes and savoring a hot cup ofcoffee.Its usually pretty busy here in the morning with our regulars andduring hunting season we get hunters in about 10:30 or so after theirmorning hunt, says owner Dan Bloomquist who got his start in therestaurant business as a 15-year-old with the unglamorous duty ofwashing dishes at the Manistee Lake Resort more than two decades ago.Now the Forest Area High School grad owns and operates the comfortablenorth woods eatery, serving up cordiality, coffee and comfort food toKalkaska diners.I always wanted to have my own place, said the affable Bloomquistwho opened his restaurant in 2006 in a building that formerly housedtwo other eateries - Grumpys Diner and the Sunrise Cafe.Before opening, Bloomquist remodeled the place, putting new sidingoutside and fresh rough-cut knotty pine paneling inside. Mounted fish,nets, bobbins, framed fishing prints and angling gear decorate thewalls. The tables are protected by vinyl covers adorned with patternsof wet and dry flies. Just-bright-enough overhead lighting comes fromstained glass lamps featuring outdoor and fishing scenes.The vibe is Up North, outdoorsy and as comfortable as a favorite t-shirt.

MEAT & POTATOESAfter his high school graduation, Bloomquist headed downstate where heworked in the restaurant business for more than a decade. All along hemissed the cool air and shady pines of Northern Michigan.By running his own place, Bloomquist has crafted a menu designed tooffer meat and potatoes at fair prices. For example, breakfastdiners can sample the Trout and Eggs, a sautéed rainbow trout with twoeggs, hash browns and toast for only $7.99.Not in the mood for eggs? How about Dans Specialty French Toast, sixslabs of thick-sliced cinnamon swirl bread that is coated with cornflakes and crushed pecans before being grilled? A belly-busting fullorder is $5.99, while a four-piece order is $4.59.Every Sunday theres a breakfast buffet thats popular without-of-town visitors and regulars alike.Anyone stopping in for lunch will find a full assortment of soups,salads, wraps, burgers and sandwiches.Dinner entrees include popular classics like a full rack of BBQ ribs($16.99), roasted turkey ($9.49), crispy fried chicken ($8.99), andhome-made meatloaf ($8.99).Seafood specialties include fish and chips ($9.99), sautéed rainbowtrout ($12.49), blue gill fillets ($10.99) and a BBQ ribs and troutcombo ($14.99).Every week we offer our Friday Fish Feast, explains Bloomquist. Itincludes a variety of seafood, but typically has cod fish and chips,Asian whitefish, breaded blue gill fillets, a parmesan encrustedrainbow trout and more. It changes all the time and its been verypopular with our guests.

WHOS WHO...Bloomquist relies on his staff of 20 to keep things running smoothly.Floor manager Jodi Miller keeps orders moving and customers happy.April Barnes is the day chef who specializes in making heartybreakfasts and an assortment of homemade desserts. Night chef TonyEdgington prepares the dinner specials, including the newly-launchedGreat Burger Night on Wednesdays.All the burgers are certified angus beef, explains Bloomquist. Weoffer a patty melt, a south of the border wrapped in a tomatotortilla, a Tex-Mex and a hot hamburger served open face and coveredwith beef gravy. Also, theres my lo-carb favorite, a jumbo pattyserved with cottage cheese and steamed broccoli.If youre planning a special event like a business luncheon,graduation party, wedding rehearsal dinner, birthday party of SuperBowl bash, Trout Town Country Cafe offers catering that features animpressive assortment of meals.In an economy that has seen the closing of other Kalkaska restaurants,Bloomquist says business has been strong and hes optimistic. In fact,he wants to give back to his guests during the upcoming holiday seasonby giving away hors doeuvres such as bbq meatballs, chicken wings andmore for 10 diners on Christmas Eve.Its been a great year for us, he offers. It was down earlier, butits really recovered well in the past three months. We do a lot ofwork to make sure that our customers get a great home-cooked meal at areasonable price - thats our goal.Trout Town Country Café at 306 Elm St. in Kalkaska, is open Monday-Thurs-day 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Satur-day 6:30 to 9 p.m.; Sunday 7a.m. to 3 p.m.For more information and takeoutorders, call (231)258-2701 or go towww.trouttowncafe.com.